meeker



ntrd gisten @anni @Wire i' HENRY N. MEEKER, or sMITrrs MILLsQNEw YORK.' Letters Patent No. 89,590, dated May 4:, 1869.

IldPl-ZOVEIMENT IN MAQHINES FOR WASHING EIDES AND .'ILEAL'HIER.

m l The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the lame.

To all `whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY N. MEEKER, ot Smiths Mills, in the county of Chautauqua, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Washing Hides and' Leather; and I do hereby declare that the followingis ay full and exact description thereof, reference being had to-the accompanying drawings, making part of this specilication, in whichl Y Figure l is a vertical section of my improved maf chine.

Figure 2, an end elevation.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both gures. Y Y

In the process 0f tanning, or the manufacture of leather, the skins and hides are required to be thoroughly washed after they are taken out of the tanliquor, in order to remove the tan and other adherent matter, and in some of the various processes, this operation is several times repeated.

Heretofore this has been accomplished by subject# ing each hide to a scrubbing, by means of a broom, a laborious and tedious operation.

The object of my improvement is the construction of a machine by which this process can begreatly expedited, and a corresponding saving in time and labor effected.

The invention consists of inwardly-projecting ribs, arranged radially within a-slatted cylinder upon a horizontal axis, in which the hides are subjected to rubbing and rinsing by the rotation of the cylinder partially submerged in a vat of water.

f In the drawings- A represents the vat in which the cylinder B is arranged, and supported by its journals resting insuitable bearings in the standards O O, or equivalent.

This cylinder is constructed of longitudinal slats, or strips d d, secured to the peripheriesof the heads, leaving a space between each two for the passage of Athe water.

To the inner surfaceof the cylinder is fastened a number of ribs e e, which are made to project` inwardly, as shown in fig. 1.

These ribs are essential in orderto produce the necessary agitation 0fthe hides, which is most effectually accomplished by the partially rotating and tumbling motion they impart to them.

Without their use, the slippery nature of the hides combined with theirgravity, would cause them to re- -number,

main comparatively at'rest in the bottom'of ther cyl#v inderf Y F is a door, through which the hides are introduced into the cylinder.

It is represented as constructed of three slats dd d, fastened to two straps of iron g g, one end'of which is pivoted, or hingedto the cylinder at h, and the other provided with a slot, forming a hasp, which engages with a staple, t', and isfastened by a key, j, as clearly shown. Y f

H is a pinion at the end of one of the journals, by which motion may be imparted to the cylinder.

It may, however, be rotated by any suitable power, and any other suitable arrangement of mechanism.

The vat A being filled with water, or other liquid, the hides are placed in the cylinder, which maybe made of a size capable of containing a greater or less as required, and the latter set in motion, when a -few minutes sufiice to thoroughly wash the hides, which are then readily removed, and a fresh lot introduced. -v

By the use of my improved machine, any given number of hides may be properly washed in a much less period of time, and with but little labor compared with the ordinaryfatiguing process by hand.

It may be noticed that the open slatted cylinder and enclosing vat insure a free ingress and-egress of the water, which brings it in intimate contact with all portions of the hides, and the radial ribs e having 'a ten dency to raise, or lift the water above its level in the vat, and therefore produce the effect of .pouring,and give greater agitation.

The advantage of Vsuch an arrangement over a closed cylinder illd with water, and having no enclosing vat, is apparent.

`What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Y The rotating slatted cylinder B,'.when provided with inwardly-projecting ribs, or shelves e c, for lifting por.` tions of the water from the tub, or vat A, constructed,

arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name,

in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A l HENRY N. MEEKEB. Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, JAY HYATT. 

